Arch supporter



Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,602

H. w. CHRISTOPH ARCH surfon'rna Filed August 10. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WJTNES 5 5.- V INVENTOR ATTORNEY QAQM Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,602

H. w. CHRISITOPH ARCH SUPPORTER Filed August 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ffl'ii 4 I T161 J I III II'IIIIII'IIIIIIIII'" WITNESSES: 0' a INVENTOR flaws I/V. Chrisiqah 6 BY r fl7l I AZZNY Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E ANS W. CHRISTOPH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '.'l.0 SAMUEL B. AMSTERDAM, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARCH SUPPORTER.

Application filed August 10, 1925. Serial No. 49,204.

My invention relates to arch supporters.

The chief objection to the 'arch supporters now in use is that they are made of stiff material which engages and wears the shoe and causes discomfort to the wearer. Another objection is that each arch supporter must be specially made to order to properly fit the foot.

The objects of my invention are to provide an arch supporter which is free of stiff materialand will not wear the shoe or cause discomfortto the wearer; which automatically adjusts itself to snugly fit the foot, and

' which is flexible and acts as a cushion to absorb shocks,

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of an arch supporter made in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 an edge view of the porter shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3a section on line 3-3 of Figurel, Figure 4 a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 a view similar to Figure 4 showingit in a normally compressed position,

Figure 6 a view similar ing the supporter in an abnormally compressed position,

' 77 of Figure arch sup-- Figure 7 a section on lin 4, and Figure 8 a view similar to Figure 7 showmgia modified form of arch supporter.

' eferring to the drawings, the arch supporter is made of rubber terial and consists of a shoe-engaging part 461 and a foot-engaging part 2, vulcanized or otherwise secured to each other at 3, to provide a' space or hollow central part 4 which is filled with air at or above atmospheric pressure. The hollow part "extends from one side edge to the other. The contour of the ar'ch'supporter may be of the conventional shape with the heel part 5 dished to fit-the heel so. that the supporter will not shift under the foot. .The foot; engaging; part 2 is provided with pro ections 6, near the inner edge 7 of the supporter, which extend into the space porter is likely to to Figure 5 show-' or equivalent ma These projections limit the compressing movementrof the foot-engaging part 2 as shown in Figure 6. In Figure 8, I have shown a rib 6 to perform the same function as the projections 6 shown in Figures 4-7,

en in' use, the arch supporter, which is filled with air as shown in Figure 4, is compressed so that the air in the hollow part 4, from the outer edge 8 to a point 9 or thereabout, is forced into the hollow part near the inner edge 7 as shown in Figure 5. This increases the pressure in the space near the inner edge and tends to force the foot-engaging part snugly against the arch and inner side of the foot. The foot-engaging part 2 being of soft rubber will conform to the shape of the foot and thus form a comfortable and flexible support for the arch. Should'the foot receive an abnormal shock, the projections 6 will prevent the foot-engaging part from being compressed beyond the point where injury to the foot or the supresult.

The shoe-engaging part is preferably made stiffer than the foot-engaging part so that it will retain the shape of the arch supporter, but sufliciently flexible to conform to the inner sole of the shoe. The arch 'supporter, beingmade of rubber or other soft material, will not wear the shoe or cause discomfort to the wearer, and being filled with air will automatically adjust itself to conform to the shape of the foot and shoe.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth: but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly 1. An arch supporter made of flexible material and comprising upper andlower walls forming an air cushion between said walls, the lower wall being transversely shaped to conform .to the 'sole and side of a shoe andthe u per wall curved to conform to the solo and side of the arch of the foot and means between said walls and located at substansion consists in a plurality of upwardly and tially the juncture of the sole and side porinwardly extending flexible projections on tions of the lower wall for limiting the dethe bottom wall between the sole and side 10 gree of compression, substantially as deportions thereof, substantially as described. 5 scribed. i In testimony whereof I have signed my 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in name to this specification. which the means for limiting the compres- HANS W. GHRISTOPH. 

